Novel hole transport materials of pyrogallol-sulfonamide hybrid: synthesis, optical, electrochemical properties and molecular modelling for perovskite solar cells

Abstract Sulfonamide derivatives as semiconductor materials for organic optoelectronic devices, including photovoltaic (PV), have received considerable interest. In the present work, the synthesis of novel pyrogallol-sulfonamide derivatives based on a molecular hybridization approach yielded N-((4-((2,3,4-trihydroxyphenyl)diazenyl)phenyl)sulfonyl)acetamide ( N -DPSA). The techniques of spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR), and mass spectrum were utilized to identify the structural composition of the synthesized N -DPSA. The new N -DPSA was investigated by Hall-effect measurement to prove the positive charge carrier (hole mobility) with mobility and conductivity of 2.39 × 10 3 cm 2 /Vs and 1.76 × 10 –1 1/Ω cm, respectively. Consequently, N -DPSA could be proposed as a strong candidate as a p-type semiconductor (hole transport layer (HTL)). The optical energy gap was computed at 2.03 eV, indicating the direct optical transition nature of N -DPSA. The elaborated molecular semiconductor's thermal features, molecular modelling, and electronic energy levels were also investigated. The new N -DPSA at various concentrations provided easy synthesis, cheap cost, high performance, and a straightforward design approach for a possible HTL in effective perovskite solar cells (PSCs). A PCE of 7.3% is shown for the N -DPSA-based PSC at its optimal concentration.